Column clamp



Dec. 20, 1932. J. E. ToMPKlNs 1,891,484

COLUMN CLAMP Filed Dec. 9. 1929 UCHDII @calamar-:ICICI grs/wanten 'Vereffe Emp/(lbs f WWW/WW awww( Patented Dec. 20, 1932 `UNITED STATES PATEN'Iolllcaffff JOHN vEviszan'r'rn- ToMPxINs; or CLEVELAND, omo, AssIGNoni ro ,run cLiav'EnaimV WHEELBARROW a iure. co., or cLEvELANnomoA conronAmoNfor 01110 COLUMN f Application led December 9, 1929.35 Serial 'No..412,`666.

This invention relates to clamping devices adapted for use with molding apparatus and particularly relates to column Vclamps for clamping molds used in the forming of con` crete columns. d y

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a column clamp which will be cheap to construct and assemble and eilicient in operation.

Another object is to provide a column clamp requiring theV minimum number of parts and adapted for installation in position on a column mold with the minimum number of movements by the operator thereof.

ments directlywithout the use of any .inter-V mediate or auxiliary appliances.

Another object is to provide 'a column clamp of the type comprising a'pair of hinged clamping elements which may be hingedly folded together into a compactA unit or hingedly unfolded to adapt them to embrace the corner of a column mold and provided with automatic means for, locking the clamp' ing elements together when hingedly opened up to a. predetermined angle, such as the angle of the column mold corner to Vloe embraced. Another Objectis to provide af column clamp for rectangular molds and ofthe general type comprising afpair of hingedly connected clamp elements adapted to behingedly folded into compact size or hingedly un folded to adapt them to embrace the corner of a mold and provided Vwith automatic means for locking them together and hingedly"unfolded sufficiently to embrace therebetween an angle of 90.

A Other objects will be apparent to those Another object is to provide `an improved lowing description taken in connection with.v `the accompanying drawing, 1n which Fig. l is a plan view of a column clampem- Ybodying my invention, showing vthe clamp in? position varound a column form and with wedges which I may employ omitted 'cosim-A plify the drawing;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentar perspectiveview of the rcolumn clamp of 1g. l showing the wedges in clamping position;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of `one of a pair of column clamp unitscomposing the column:

vclamp and showing the wedges thereof in the position which theyoccupy preparatory to installing the clampon the form; Fig. 4 isa side sectional VVview of a column .clamp showingthe engagement ofia wedge with other yparts thereof;

'Figo is a view ofone of the column clamp unitsy shown inthe other figures and collapsed and Y folded up 'to compact size for transportation purposes;

Fig-1 to a larger scale, showing an automaticv locking feature of invention; L Y.

Fig.f7 is a view similar to Figf with .the parts thereof in different positions; 1

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken from the plane 8 of Fig. 7. i

As will be understood from the following description, the column cla-mp ofmy inven# tionV is generally employedin'pairs vof units.

Each oneof the similar clamp unitsof the `pair comprises .fa single. element and af double element 2 hinged together asy at 13.3.

The single element l may be made from a barv i of metal, preferablyV steel,provided with two rows of elongated perforations'4, l and,

Fig. 6. is a fragmentary, view of a partofV thecolumn clampof my i 5,5, respectively. The series of perforations 4, 4 are staggered with respect to the perforations5,5.. -k

The double element 2 is preferably made from two flat bars 7 and 8 similar to the bar 6. The bars 7 and 8 are each provided with a double row of elongated perforations 9, 9 and 10,10; and the perforations 9, 9 are staggered with respect to the perforations 10', 10 and the perforations 9 and 1-0 in the bar 7 are aligned with corresponding perforations in the bar 8 in such manner that a wedge or the like, which I employ, may be inserted in one of the perforations, say a perforation 9 in the bar 7 and' may be passed on into and through a perforation 9 aligned therewith inthe bar.

8as shown in F ig. 4.

The Single bare and the double bar 7 8 f thus provided are pivotally connected together at one end of each thereof by afbolt or rivet 3 passed through suitable perforations therein. At the oppositeV end of the double4 element 2, the two bars 6 and 8 are rigidly connected together by an intermediate plate or y block 11 by suitable bolts or rivets 12 passed through the parts 6, 8 and 11 above described. To further brace the two bars 6 and VSa'nd to hold them suitably in spaced relation, a block 13 is provided between the bars 6 and 8 and riveted or boltedV thereto as by rivets 14, the block 13 being situated between the pivot 3 and the first vone of the per- J forations 9 or 10.

The space between the bars 6 and 8 thus provided is preferablyv made the same thiclrf be folded thereinbetween when ,desired and as illustrated in Fig. 5. To facilitate compactly folding the bars together in this'manner, the block 13 is made to extend only part way across -the width of the bars6 and 8 between which it lies. v i Y l In the operation of the clamp, I employ a pair'of wedges 16 and 17 in connection with each one of the pair of column clamp units.

The wedges 16 and 17 are each connected by a chain 18 to a carrier 19, the chains 18 being connected to the wedges 16 and 17 by rings 22"linked in perforations y23 in the'wedges and being-connected withthe carrier-19 by rings 21 linked in perforations 20 in the carrier 19. f The carrier'is preferably made of flat metal and extends transversely through the space between the'bars 7 and 8 and the perforations 20 are provided-in the opposite endsvof the carrier 19;

The single bar 6 and the double bar 7 -8 in the locality-of the vhingeconnection atthe bolt or rivet 3 Vare provided with automatic lockingfeatures'which will now be described. At theextreme end of the bar 6, it is bent lor forged to. form a tongue 25 projecting at rightangles from therflat face of the bar 6 in thev direction toward the bar 8. The bar 8v is providedwith a corresponding notch 27 yin the edgethereof and adjacent its YeXtreme end, the notch 27 and tongue 25 being rela- Ymoved therefrom, the bar 6 is provided with a short slot or perforation 28 extending longitudinally thereink and through which the bolt or rivet 3 passes, the bolt or rivet 3 being -iXed in the bars 7 and 8 by close fitting perforationsv29 in the bars 7-8. By means lof thisconstruction, as will appear, the bar l@may be moved in its longitudinal direction back .and forthtomove the tongue 25 into' the notch 27 or out therefrom.

When the tongue 25 and notch 27 are disengaged from each other, the single bar 6 when the bars Aare hinge'dly moved, the slot.

28 is positioned nearthe outer edge 30 of the bar 6 and the boltor rivet 3 is positioned near the inner edge 31 of the double bar 7-8 and the extreme outer corner of the bar 8 is cut away as at 32y on an arc around the axis of the bolt or rivet 3.

When the tongue 25 is in the notch27, it-

will now be understood that the bar 6 will be held at a fixed predetermined angle with the bars 7 and 8. In practice, I prefer to provide that this shall be exactly or substantially la rightangleso that when the clamp unit is employed to clamp a rectangular mold, it vwill hold the m'old'in rectangular form or if is distorted fromits true form will draw i't into rectangular lform when the clamp as a whole Vis operatedfin a manner to be described. Obviously, ifthe clamp is to be used with molds which are not rectangular, that is, iffthe clamp unit is to embrace a mold the walls of which are at a greater or lesser angle than 90, the tongue 25 and notch 27 mayV be'positioned and proportioned so that the locked angle of the bars 6 and 7-8 will correspond with that of the mold.

In. the operation of my improved column clamp above described, one of the clampl units yispicked up bythe operator with the parts bars. in kthis manner, at points relatively near,

the hinge connection, the barsftend by grav-. ity to rotate in the operators hands tending to assumevertical positions through the ac# tion of gravity and thus tendA to move apart iso iso

from each other at the pivot connection. This tendenc to move apart of course is opposed by the bolt `or rivet 3, Vbut when the bars 6' and 7-8 have been opened up to right angle position, this tendency to move apartacts to cause the slot 28 and bolt or rivet 3 to move relatively to each other -thus bringing the tongue 25 into the notch 27 and locking the bars 6 and 7-8 in their right angle relation,

such as-sliown in Fig. 3. The bars 6 and 7-8 are now still Vpointing downwardly in the operators hands, so that by the .action of gravitythe wedge carrier k19 slides down to the lower free end of lthe bar 7-8, carrying the .wedges with it. The clamp unit is :nowV tipped up into a horizontal plane and applied to one corner of the mold as shown in Fig.y 1. The other of the pair of column clamp units is handled in the same manner, if necessary by another operator, and as the two clamp units are thus put in position on theA form, the single bar 6 of each clamp unit is inserted in between the two ybars .7 and. 8 of the other clamp unit. The condition of the parts thus applied to the .mold is shown in Figs. 1

and 2.

The operatorthen takes one of the wedges and places itin a suitable perforation ofthe single bar 6 and takes the other wedge and inserts it through suitablealigned perforations in the bars 74 and 8 and drives them home with a hammer, thus drawing the single bars farther into the double bars and drawing the double bars farther in along the single barsand contracting the pair of clamp units tightly around Vthe form in a manner that will be understood.

While the clamp units are being tightly drawn around the form, the rigid right angle relation of the bars above described will, as referred Vto hereinbefore', insure that the `col-. umn form will be held in rectangular condi# tion. l l

It will be observedthatif thewedge. carrier 19 is at the outer end'ofthe double element 2 when theclamp is in position to be wedged into place, not only will the carrier 19 be out of the way when the single bar 6 is inserted through the double bars 7-8 and will not interfere therewith, but also it will be outside of the space enclosed by the clamp, and it will require no attention on the part of the operator to keep the wedges or chains or vthe carrier 19 itself from confusing the assembling operation. Furthermore, when it is desired to drive the wedges into the perforations, they will be convenient tothe hand of the operator.

By'providing rings 21 of suiiicientl diameter, the carrier 19 may be trapped permanently inthe spacebetween the lbars 7 and 8.

In this connection, it is'an essential feature of my invention that the carrier v1,9 be made of suitable length between ythe links 21. If' the linksy 21 be-too' close together,.the lcarrier will notfslide to theend ofthe double element 2 as above referred to, but .Wirllbeiwedged-.by theengagementoLthe rings 21 on opposite sides ofthe bars 7 and 8.

yThe carrier 19'shouldbe of such-length that when .the zdouble element 2 Vis tipped out of horizontal'fto .cause `the `.carrier 19 to slide downwardly by sliding .engagement of vthe upperring 21 withthebars 7 and 8, l.the lower ring 21 will be out of contact with the bars 7 and 8. This featurefof my invention lwill-beV understood by reference totheabove description taken in #connection with Fig. 2 'of Vthe drawing.

Furthermore, by sliding the. carrier 19 to the extreme end of thedouble-element 2, the carrierl 19 and thechainsthereon, :will beremoved '.suilicientlynot to `interfere with the nesting of the single bar inthexdoublebar for transportation purposes, as shown in Fig. 5. Y

As will be understood byproviding double- 'rowsfof staggered perforations, the clamp of my invention is not'only 'adapted to .rectangular column molds'of various sizes, but also fof various shapes; and also when .used with any shapeor size, the clamping Vforce exerted yt'he clamps `may .be gradually in creased to anydesiredamount of driving the wedges farther; and farther into the perforations; and also by having staggered perforations in ythe bars, a perforation. may be gselected forthe wedge. in vwhich fit-may come tight-regardless ofslightqvariations in the size or shape of the form. l

When it is desired to remove' the Vclamp column, vthe wedges may be driven upwardly and out of the perforations by striking the lower ends thereof with a hammer andthe clamp units removed. To yfold ythe bars of each unit together to the position shownin Fig.. 5 for transportation purposes, 'the bar 6 may kbe -movedlongitudinally in anyv convenient manner to disengagefthe tongueLQ. from the-notchf27 and `then rocking the bolt or rivet?) to Vfold ,the .bars together.

VMy invention .is not limited tothe exact details of constructionshown and described, since my invention maybe embodiedin other and various structures without departing from the spirit of my invention-or sacrificing its advantages.` l Y 1. .In a clamp unit for -`molds or the like',`apair of'zbar elements pivotally connected together vat onefend ywhereby Athe bar elements may be hingedly v'folded together lfor trans,- portation ory unfolded for use, means for rigidly securing the bars against hinging movement when unfolded to apredetermined angle with eachother, said meansicomprising a recess in lone barelement'andra projection on the other bar elementmutually' engageable by relative movement of thevbar elements in a; longitudinalgdirectionfof one element when 1 being composed from two bars spaced apart,

' theV two bar elements are at a the two bar elements are at a predetermined angle witheach other. Y c

2. In a clamp unitfor molds or the like, a pair of bar elementspivotally connected together at one endwhereby the bar elements may be'hingedly folded together for transportation or unfolded for use, means for rigidly securing the bars against hinging movement when unfolded to a predetermined anglewith each other, said means comprising a recess in one bar element and a projection on the other bar element mutually engage-v able by relative movement of one of the bar elements in its longitudinal direction when predetermined angle with each other.

8. In a clamp'uni for molds or the like, a pair of bar-elements pivotally connected together at one end whereby the bar elements may be hingedly folded together 'for transportation or unfolded for use, means for rigidly securi-ng the bars against hinging movement when unfolded to a predetermined angle with each other, said means comprising a hinge pivot element secured to the first bar the second bar element being composed from a single bar interposed at the pivot connection end between theb'ars .of the first bar element, an elongated perforation in the second bar element, a pivot element connecting'the bars of the first bar element and passing through said perforation whereby the second bar ele-A ment may have pivot movement and. Vbodily movement relative to the first bar element, a

recess and a projection, one thereof being as-v sociated with one of the two bars of the first bar element and the other associatedl with t-he second-bar element and the two being mutually engageable by relative bodily movement of the second bar element when the 'two bar elements have been relatively pivotally moved to embrace therebetween apredetermined angle.

5. In a clamp device unit for molds or the like, a pair 'of bar elements pivotallv connected together at one end, one of the bar elements being composed fromtwo flat rectangular bars, the other bar elementbeing composed from a single flat rectangular bar interposed between the said pair of'.y bars at the; pivot connection, an elongated perforation in the said second bar, a pivot lelement connecting the two'bars of the first bar 'element and passing through the perforation, a tongue projecting from a face ofthe second bar element and at the end thereof beyond the said pivot connection, a notch in a side edge of one of the bars of the second bar element engageable by said tongue by bodilyA movement of the second bar element when the two bar elements have been pivotally moved to embrace therebetween a predetermined angle. j

6. In a clamp for molds or the like,.a pair of clamp units, each unit comprisinga pair of bar elements pivotally connectedy together at one end, the first bar elementl being composed from a pair of bars spaced apart and provided with a series of staggered perforations, the perforations of one bar registering A with those of the other bar of the pair, the second vbar element being composed from a single bar and provided with a series of staggered perforations, the single bar of veach unit being adapted to be insert-ed between the two bars of the other unit to embrace` between the units a mold or the liketo be clamped, and the said single barof each unit being inserted between the two bars of the said unit at the pivot connection and means for rigidly locking the two bar elements of each unit against pivoting movement when embracing therebetween a predetermined angle, said means comprising an elongated perforation in the single bar, a'

pivotelement connecting the two said bars and passing through said perforation whereby the second bar element may'have hinging movement and bodilyY movement relative to the first; bar element, a recess on oneof the bar elements, a projection on the other bar element, the t-wo being adapted to be mutually engaged upon relative bodily movement of the single bar element to the double bar when the two have been pivotally moved to embrace a predetermined angle.

7. In a clamp device for molds or the like, a pair of clamp units, each unit comprising a double bar element and a single bar element, the single bar element being composed from a single bar provided with a series of staggered perforations, the double bar being composed from two parallel spaced bars, each of which is provided with a series of staggered perforations registeringwith corresponding perforations in the other, the

two bars of one element and the single bar of the other` element being pivotally connected together at one end, the said single bar of each 4unit being adapted to be inserted between the two bars of the other unit to embrace thereinbetween a moldfor the like tofbe clamped, a pair of wedges for each unit adapted to be driven into the perforations of the double .barof one-unit and the single bar offthe other unit to exert clampingjaction IDO between the units, said pivot connection being adapted to permit the bar elements to be hingedly folded together for transportation or unfolded to adapt them for use by embracing therebetween a predetermined angle, means for rigidly locking the bar elements together against hinging movement when unfolded to a predetermined angle, said means comprising a pivot pin on the rst bar element, an elongated perforation in the second bar element'embiacing said pin, Awhereby the bar elements may have both pivoting relative movement and bodily relative movement, male and female engaging portions, one on the iirst bar element'and the other on the secondv bar element and mutually engageablc to lock the bar elements against pivoting movement upon relative bodily movement of the two elements in the direction of the elongated perforation when the bars embrace said predetermined angle.

8. In a clamp unit for molds or the like, a pair of bar elements pivotally connected together at one end whereby the bar elements may be hingedly folded together for transportation or unfolded for use, means for rigidly securing the bars against hinging movement in either opening or closing direction when unfolded to a predetermined angle with each other, said means comprising a recess in one bar element and a projection on the other bar element mutually engageable by relative movement of the bar elements in a longitudinal direction of one element when the two bar elements are at a predetermined angle with each other.

9. In a clamp unit for molds or the like,

a pair of bar elements pivotally connected' together at one end whereby the bar elements may be hingedly folded together for transportation or unfolded for use, means for rigidly Securing the bars against hinging movement in either opening or closing direction when unfolded to a predetermined angle with each other, said means comprising a recess in one bar element and a projection on the other bar element mutually engageable by relative movement of one of the bar elements in its longitudinal direction when the two bar elements are at a predetermined angle with each other.

10. In a clamp unit for molds or the like, a pair of bar elements pivotally connected together at one end whereby the bar elements may be hingedly folded together for transportation or unfolded for use, the bars being provided adjacent the pivot connection with mutually interlocking portions mutually engageable by relative movement of the bar elements when unfolded to a predetermined angle to lock them at said angle against hinging movement in either folding or unfolding directions.

11. In a clamp unit for molds or the'like, a pair of bar elements pivotally connected angle-with each other, said means comprising 1 mutually interlocking portions on the bar'elements engageable by relativeV movement of the bar elements.

12. In a clamp unit for molds or the like, a pair of bar elements pivotally connected together at one end whereby the bar elements may be hingedly folded together for transportation or unfolded for use, means for rigidly securing the bars against hinging movement in either folding or unfolding directions when unfolded to a predetermined angle with each other, said means comprising mutually interlocking portions on the bar elel ments, mutually engageable by relative bodily movement of the bar elements when unfgllded to a predetermined angle with each o er.

13. In a clamp unit for molds or the like,

k-a pair of bar elements pivotally connected together at one end whereby the bar elements may be hingedly folded together for transportation or unfolded for use, means for rigidly securing the bars against hinging movement when unfolded to a predetermined angle with each other, said means comprising an element on which the two bars hinge, aperforation in one of the bars in which the pivot element loosely fits whereby one bar element may have bodily movement relative to the other element, and a pair of mutually interlocking portions on the bar elements, adapted tobe brought into locking engage'- ment by relative bodily movement of the bar elements when the same are at a predetermiined angle with each other. i

14. In a clamp unit for molds or the like,

a pair of bar elements connected togetherat one end` said connection comprising means whereby the bar elements may be hingedlyl folded together for transportation or unfolded for use, and providing means whereby the bars may be moved relatively bodily to eachl other, mutually interlockingly engageable portions on the respective bars for locking them against hinging movement in either folding or unfolding directions when they have been opened to a predetermined angletherebetween.

15. .In a clamp unit for molds or the like, a pair of bar elements connected together Y at one end, said connection comprising means whereby the bar elements may be hingedly folded together for transportation or unfolded for use, and providing means whereby the bars may be moved relatively bodily to each other, mutually interlockingly engageable portions on the respective bars for locking them against hinging movement in either folding or unfolding directions When they have been opened to a, vpredetermined angle therebetween, said interlocking portions be- ,"35 ing adapted to be brought into interlocking engagement by` relative bodily movement of the bar elements when in a predetermined angular open position. y In testimony whereof I hereunto aliix my 'O signature this 28th day of November, 1929.

J. EVERETTE TOMPKINS. 

